Hi there Bombshell, hope you are enjoying BYC! 
It's been way to long since I hatched anything.
But in my opinion/experience you cannot get BCM for $3 or the same price as every other chick they have. At least I haven't seen any hatchery selling them that cheap. Maybe the new Midnight Majesty Marans, would be my guess. Though my local feed store did say they would take mine to sell for the same price... Quack! I don't think so.
I agree that it looks more mottled compared to what I usually see.
Thing is... even though I select very hard among my parent stock, as noted by colt, not every offspring get the same set of genes even from the same parents... and among hatchery stock there isn't much consistency. Marans should have white skin, not yellow... seen under the feet. I know legs can kinda change though and I'm having a hard time recalling how they appeared...
Some of my Marans (looks like 2 black copper and a blue) and Silkie chicks... nicely feathered legs, you cannot expect the same quality from hatchery birds. But the feet do look yellowish... and I KNOW they weren't at maturity.
It's also possible the cuckoo is a cockerel. If you can't find a listing for BCM at Privets then the birds either didn't come from there or they aren't BCM. Some shops use more than one hatchery while others will take in private local chicks. Calling your store and asking is the best way to get clues!
Cute babies!
It's been way to long since I hatched anything.
But in my opinion/experience you cannot get BCM for $3 or the same price as every other chick they have. At least I haven't seen any hatchery selling them that cheap. Maybe the new Midnight Majesty Marans, would be my guess. Though my local feed store did say they would take mine to sell for the same price... Quack! I don't think so.
I agree that it looks more mottled compared to what I usually see.
Thing is... even though I select very hard among my parent stock, as noted by colt, not every offspring get the same set of genes even from the same parents... and among hatchery stock there isn't much consistency. Marans should have white skin, not yellow... seen under the feet. I know legs can kinda change though and I'm having a hard time recalling how they appeared...
Some of my Marans (looks like 2 black copper and a blue) and Silkie chicks... nicely feathered legs, you cannot expect the same quality from hatchery birds. But the feet do look yellowish... and I KNOW they weren't at maturity.
It's also possible the cuckoo is a cockerel. If you can't find a listing for BCM at Privets then the birds either didn't come from there or they aren't BCM. Some shops use more than one hatchery while others will take in private local chicks. Calling your store and asking is the best way to get clues!
Cute babies!
